The one-in-four estimate is large and precisely defined
The World Health Organization estimates that about 240 million people ages 11–17 reported no day in the previous week with at least 60 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity. Adolescents reported an average 2.7 active days, while 14% reported meeting the threshold on all seven days.
‘No active days’ does not mean no movement of any kind. It means the respondent did not report reaching the 60-minute threshold on any day in that recall period.
| Measure | Estimate |
|---|---|
| Surveys | 389 |
| Countries and territories | 140 |
| Adolescents represented in survey data | More than 3.2 million |
| Estimated zero-active-day adolescents | About 240 million |
| Average active days | 2.7 per week |
| Active all seven days | 14% |
The gender gap appears at both ends of the measure
Twenty-eight percent of girls reported zero active days compared with 22% of boys. At the other end, 11% of girls and 17% of boys reported meeting the 60-minute threshold every day.
The six-point gap appears in opposite directions at both extremes. WHO says girls were less active in almost every country and region, but the release does not identify one universal cause.
Country variation warns against treating the average as local reality
The zero-day estimate ranged from 4% in some countries to more than 40% in others. Transport, safe public space, school conditions, affordability, social norms and screen-centered routines may all shape opportunity.
That spread is why a global average cannot substitute for a country plan. The policy value lies in measuring local barriers and tracking whether schools, streets and programs make activity easier.
Method, reader value and limits
WHO says the study pooled 389 population-based surveys from 140 countries and territories involving more than 3.2 million adolescents. The estimates are self-reported, so recall, wording, school attendance and survey coverage can affect comparability.
This article is news analysis, not an original investigation. It translates what the headline estimate measures and does not measure. The release reports association and trends; it does not prove that any one factor caused the 15-year stagnation.
Sources and further reading
WHO news release, November 4, 2026 ↗